Current Section

Match Recap: Sanjaxx Lions 0 - 2 Toronto FC III

10/10/2017, 5:45pm EDT

By League1 Ontario staff

TFC III's Zakaria Abdi (66') finished a cross at back-post, while Luca Petrasso (79') accurately dispatched the insurance marker and keeper Gianluca Catalano held a clean sheet, as the Junior Reds toppled Sanjaxx Lions 2-0 in the final men's league match of the 2017 season.

"It was our last game of the season today and it has been a long season for the players as they have been going since January 4th," said Toronto FC III head coach, Danny Dichio. "It has taken a toll on the players but we wanted to finish off the season well after a game against Sigma where we were very poor."

"We played a lot more of the younger players today because they have been training well and deserved their chance," he added. "We had to be patient with them. We knew we would have a lot of possession and that Sanjaxx would defend well. We eventually took over and whether it was through quality of play or fitness, we were just patient and we got our deserved goals in the end."

Sanjaxx Lions assistant coach Devon Porter said his staff have been focused on improving the squad this season and are looking forward to 2018 campaign where the time invested pays dividends in squad depth and performance.

"These are young guys and they are trying to learn the game," he said. "I'm not sure some of them are grasping it as quickly as possible and in some cases we are trying to coach them through the game, and at this level you can't do that."

"We have to get them into the right mindset to do a job, do the business and be strong enough to carry it out."

"I wouldn't say we achieved our goal because everyone wants to win the league, but we see a core of a team with some other ones coming in that makes us hope we can be near the top next year with the big guys," he added.

Dichio said he was also happy with the progress his TFC III group had made, with several individuals advancing through to the club's full-time professional levels.

"We don't set goals for the team because we have so many players coming through," he said.

"Our goal is related to the overall program and we have had seven players moved forward to TFC II, and four of those will sign professional forms this year. At the end of the day, that is my role. If I can help them move to the next level, guide them and help them, and put them through good games in League1 - I've done my job."

Toronto FC III finish their season in third position in the west division, with 45 points and a record of 15 wins, five losses and three draws. The team was second for goals for (73), third for goals against (30) and second in goal difference (43).

Sanjaxx Lions finish their season in seventh position in the west division, with 15 points and a record of four wins, fifteen losses and three draws. The team was seventh for goals for (18), sixth for goals against (61) and seventh in goal difference (-43).